Old Wars, New Wars | January, 1983 to December, 1988

Date: 
Saturday, January 1, 1983 to Thursday, December 1, 1988

Publication Date: September, 2014

Following Bachir Gemayel’s assassination and the Sabra and Chatila massacre in 1982, Amine. Gemayel, Bachir’s brother, was elected president. On May 17, 1983, he concluded an agreement with Israel and the United States that stipulated the withdrawal of all Israeli, Syrian, and Palestinian forces from Lebanon. The National Salvation Front373 and Syria immediately opposed this agreement, and though the Lebanese Parliament ratified it on June 15, 1983, the president refused to issue the relevant decree. However, during this period Israeli forces withdrew from central Lebanon and were redeployed toward South Lebanon.

More generally, the period between 1983 and 1988 saw an escalation of all conflicts: the War of the Mountain between the LF and the PSP and its allies, new fighting in and around Palestinian camps, better known as the War of the Camps, and two successive wars in Tripoli. No region in Lebanon was spared, with continuing clashes in Greater Beirut and South Lebanon. On August 20, 1987, several hundred Lebanese citizens clad in white demonstrated against the war and formed a human chain that crossed West and East Beirut through the National Museum. Bomb attacks, abductions, and targeted assassinations took place across Lebanon, with a marked rise during this period in the abduction of foreigners or representatives of foreign institutions.

Associated incidents: 
Explosion targeting Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah kills 80 people and injures 200
Nabila Breir, staff member of UNICEF, gunned down by four men in West Beirut
Car bomb that was targeting President Camille Chamoun killed at least four people
The Communist intellectual Hussein Mroueh was assassinated in his home
Prime Minister Rachid Karami killed by a bomb placed under his seat
Assassination of Father André Mass, the director of USJ’s branch in Saida
30 civilians killed in an explosion in the offices of Palestinian organizations in Shtura, Beqaa
Bomb placed in front of the Palestinian Research Institute, offices of the PLO on Caracas Street kills 12
Two civilians killed by a car bomb placed close to offices of the Kataeb Party
An explosive close to offices of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards kills 2 civilians
6 employees and 2 security guards killed by an explosion in front of the Summerland Hotel
TNT bomb blows up in a busy vegetable market, killing 39 civilians and wounding 133 in Beqaa, Baalbek
Haret Hreik explosion kills 13 people and wounds 40
6 people killed by an explosion near the offices of the Murabitun in Tarik al-Jdideh
16 civilians killed and 10 wounded by explosion in front of Makassed Hospital,Tarik al-Jdideh
2 explosions, one in Damascus Road and one inside the Marble Tower Hotel
Car packed with dynamite in Tallet al-Khayyat kills 2 and injures 60
Car bomb in Aley kills 4 and injures 16
A bomb explods in a bank in Musseitbeh killing 3 civilians
Car bomb parked in front of the mosque during Friday prayers kills 6 and injures 80 in Tripoli
2 Car bombs, one in Tripoli and one in Verdun claim 9 lives and injures 21
A car bomb placed in the southern suburbs of Beirut kills 5 and injures 44
A truck loaded with explosives kills 4 civilians and injures 42 in Hayy Madi
Thirty civilians were killed, 177 wounded in a bomb blast in Sin al-Fil
Car bomb parked at a checkpoint of the Lebanese Army kills 15 people at Jnah
In Tripoli, a car bomb in front of an ice cream parlor kills 50 people
13 people were killed in an explosion in Sed al-Bawshriyyeh, in Beirut’s eastern suburbs
31 civilians killed in explosion in front of a supermarket on the Jal al-Dib–Antelias Highway
A car bomb close to a supermarket in Ashrafieh kills 30 people and wounds 80.
3 separate car bombs, 2 in the southern suburbs and one in West Beirut claim 24 lives
56 civilians killed and 120 injured by a car bomb in Tripoli
A car bomb in Zahleh kills 14 and injures 42 civilians
A car bomb explods in Sin al-Fil killing 4 civilians and injuring 17 people
Another car bomb in Sin al-Fil killes 6 peopleand injures 73 people
A bomb in Kesrwan, Jounieh, kills 10 civilians and injures 114
3 people were killed and 36 wounded car bomb parked in Saida
Six people were killed and 87 injured by a car bomb parked in front of a printing press in Sin al-Fil
In the area of Zalka, two pupils were killed, and 45 injured as a car bomb blew up as a school bus passed
A car bomb in Ruweiss killed 15 people and injured 62 civilians
In Zalqa and neighboring Jal al-Dib, a car bomb killed 5 and injured 2
A car bomb in Ramlet al-Bayda, West Beirut, kills 6 people and injures 12
A bomb was set off at the Beirut airport, killing 3 civilians and injuring 65
A woman suicide bomber carried a time bomb into the American University Hospital (AUH) and killed herself and 6 civilians and injured 31.
A car bomb blew up in Tripoli, in the neighborhood of Bab al-Tabbaneh 66 people were killed and 90 injured
Car bomb exploded close to the Greek Orthodox Hospital, killed 16 civilians and injured 81
A car rigged with explosives was driven into an Israeli position in Marje’yun killing 7 Israeli soldiers and 2 civilians
Two nuns, one of whom was the sister of the Zahleh Maronite bishop, were abducted and released
The LF and PSP abducted members from each other’s militias in Deir Durit and in Kfarhim. 23 of these hostages were killed.
Jeremy Levin, the Beirut bureau chief of Cable News Network (CNN) was abducted by the Islamic Jihad
Peter Kilburn, an AUB employee, was abducted. His body was found one month later, in Sofar
William Buckley, political officer at the U.S. embassy, was abducted and killed by the Islamic Jihad
Rev. Benjamin Weir, teacher at the Protestant school in Hamra, was abducted and released
Raoul Mizrahi, a Lebanese Jew, was abducted. His body was found 10 days later
Salim Jammous, a Lebanese Jew and secretary of the Jewish Council, was abducted in West Beirut and disappeared
The Swiss Chargé d’Affaires, Eric Wehrli, was abducted and released 4 days after in Rawcheh, West Beirut
U.S. priest Martin Lawrence Jenco, who worked for Catholic Relief Services, was abducted in West Beirut. He was released on July 26, 1986
Nicolas Kluiters, a Dutch Roman Catholic priest, was abducted and tortured. His body was found in the Caza of B’albeq on April 1, 1985.
UK citizen Geoffrey Nash was kidnapped and released 14 days later
Terry Anderson, chief Middle East correspondent for AP, was abducted. He was released on December 4, 1991
Two French diplomats were abducted in Beirut and released on May 5 1988
Gilles Peyrolles, head of the French Cultural Center in Tripoli, was abducted. He was released on April 2, 1985.
Alec Collett, a British journalist was abducted with his driver. His body was found in November 2009.
Dr. Elie Hallak, vice president of the Jewish Council in Lebanon, was abducted from his home and disappeared.
Two Lebanese Jews, Elie Youssef Srour and Haim Cohen, were abducted and disappeared
Isaac Sasson, president of the Jewish Council, was abducted en route from the airport
French writer/researcher Michel Seurat was abducted in Beirut by the Islamic Jihad. A year later, the group announced that Seurat was dead.
Denis Hill, a teacher at AUB, went missing. His body was found on May 29, 1985. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility
David Jacobsen, an American and AUH director was abducted in West Beirut. He was released on November 2, 1986.Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility
Thomas Sutherland, AUB’s dean of agriculture, was abducted in Beirut on his way to the university
Iranian national Alfred Yagoubzadeh, a photographer working for Sipa Press, was abducted and released on August 16, 1985
Wajed Doumani was abducted in Saqiet al-Janzir
Shakib Sa’id Hmaydan, director of ABC News in Lebanon, was abducted in Rawsheh in West Beirut
Swiss national Stephane Jacquemet, head of the ICRC delegation, was abducted in ‘Adlun in South Lebanon and released on August 20, 1985.
Three Lebanese executives from the Banque du Liban were abducted and Lebanese Red Cross volunteers were abducted in Barbir
Lebanese national and LCP member Mudieddine Hashisho, was abducted in Sidon
Zahi Khouryand four of his family members were kidnapped in Hamra
UK nationals Hazel Moss and Amanda McGrath who was an AUB teacher were abducted in West Beirut. They were released on October 8, 1985
Four Soviet diplomats were abducted in Mar Elias and in the Cola area. Three were released and one was killed
Amal and the LF exchange 12 hostages at the Beirut Hippodrome
Lebanese nationals Munir Shma’a and Joe Salameh were abducted as they were leaving their home in Bliss, West Beirut
Fifteen Syrian civilians who had been detained were released in Ain al Tuffaheh
Two of the seven Lebanese Jews who were abducted in Beirut in March and in May 1985 were found dead
Three employees from the Spanish embassy were abducted in Beirut and released on February 19, 1986
The second secretary at the South Korean embassy, Do Chaie Sung, was abducted in Ramlet al-Bayda
A Lebanese Jew, and his two sons were abducted. He and one son were executed by The Organization of the Oppressed on Earth
16 civilians, including doctors and nurses who had been abducted in previous days, were released in Nabatiyeh
French national Michel Brillant was abducted in Hamra and released four days later in the Beqaa and then transported to Damascus
Ten French nationals had been abducted and 21 foreigners in total
Irish national Brian Keenan, an English teacher at AUB, was abducted in Beirut
Two American nationals were abducted and released at the end of April 199o and in December 1991.
The director of Dar al-Handassah, Saba Abdo, was abducted in Hamra
French reporter Roger Auque was abducted in West Beirut and was released on November 27, 1987, close to the Summerland Hotel in Beirut
Two West Germans were abducted in West Beirut
U.K. national Terry Waitewas abducted in the Beqaa and was released in November 1991.
American journalist Charles Glass was abducted with Adel Osseiran and his bodyguard in West Beirut
Two employees of the Middle East Airlines (MEA)were abducted at the Museum crossing in Beirut
West German Ralph Schray was abducted in West Beirut
Two UNRWA employees were abducted on the road between Sour and Saida.They were released on March 1, 1988, in West Beirut
Monseignor Albert Khreish was abducted from his home in Ghadir
Jan Cools, a Belgian doctor working with the Norwegian Aid Committee, was abducted at the Rashidiyyeh camp in South Lebanon. He was released on June 16, 1989
Peter Winkler, head of the ICRC mission in Saida, was abducted.
Israel releases 752 prisoners detained at the Ansar Prison and transports 1,131 other detainees to prisons inside Israel
Israel releases 113 Lebanese and Palestinians it had been detaining in Haifa, Israel. They were transported by bus to Saida and Sour
The Syrian Army released 31 Lebanese prisoners from among tens of detainees
Jamal Sharara was abducted from his home, detained and tortured. He was released on May 1, 1996.
Ali Khashish was arrested and detained until July 1996 without charge or trial
Samir Geagea leads an insurrection within the LF against Elie Hobeika’s followers
A 36-year-old man detained in Khiyam died after torture and ill-treatment
A man from Shaqra died in custody in South Lebanon, in Center 17
Eleven Lebanese were captured in Lebanon, transferred to and tried in Israel
A South Lebanese man in his 50s from Hula was arrested because he refused to collaborate with Israeli forces
One hundred and twenty detainees from Khiyam went on a three-day hunger strike
Two Lebanese were arrested at a LF checkpoint in Beirut; they were detained in the suburbs of Adonis and allegedly tortured
Souha Bechara arrested and detained without charge or trial until 1998 at Khiyam for attempting to kill SLA leader Antoine Lahd
Jean-Paul Kauffmann was abducted in West Beirut with Michel Seurat by the Islamic Jihad
Assassination attempt on Mustafa Saad kills 2 civilians and injures 45
11 people killed in explosion in Amal office
Druze Sheikh Khalil al Tawil assassinated
Suicide attack at U.S. embassy kills eight people and injures between 50 and 100 people
120 civilians killed and several hundred injured
Executions of Palestinian captives by Amal militias
Artillery shelling on Burj al-Barajneh and Chatila claim 96 lives
Bomb meant for Prime Minister Salim el-Hoss kills 4 and injures 27
Sheikh Ragheb Harb shot to death in his home
AUB President Malcolm Kerr was shot and killed on campus
Druze Sheikh Halim Takieddin assassinated in his home
Two suicide attacks targeting U.S troops and French troops claim 303 lives
Suicide attack at U.S. embassy kills 63 and injures 100
Fighting in West Beirut between Amal and the Communist Party together with the PSP
Shelling of residential neighborhoods of Hadath, Baabda, and Hazmieh
Fifteen people killed and 13 wounded, including civilians
The War of the Camps worsenes in Shatila and Burj al-Barajneh
The PLO responds to Amal’s shelling of the Chatila and Burj al-Barajneh, by shelling West Beirut
Bombing continues, reaching 190 towns, villages, and residential sections of Beirut, Metn, Kesrouan, Aley, and Jbeil,
Heavy shelling on East and West Beirut, the southern suburbs, the northern and southern Metn, and Kesrouan, as well as the presidential palace, the airport, and the Ministry of Defense
Fighting between Amal and Murabitun militias in Sabra leave 4 dead
Heavy clashes between PSP and Amal claim lives of 6 civilians
Heavy fighting between Amal and Murabitun militias claim lives of 35 civilians
Bomb inside the American University of Beirut kills one student
Intense fighting in West Beirut between Amal and PSP leave 53 civilians dead
Intensive bombings covers Greater Beirut, Metn, Kesrouan, Aley, and the Shuf
Heavy clashes between the Lebanese Army and Amal leave 50 civilians killed and 200 injured.
8000 people flee the Beirut suburbs and the Shuf to south Lebanon
Shelling on residential area of Ashrafieh kills one and injures 23
Shelling on Greater Beirut kills 55 and injures 390
Heavy shelling over Baabda, Metn, Achrafieh and Keserouan
Shelling on East Beirut continues
Intense shelling concentrated on the front lines kills 90 and injures 353
Heavy shelling over Beirut, Jbeil and Batroun. Thirty-one civilians killed that day and at least 121 injured.
Hundreds of mortar shells fired across East and West Beirut claims eight people injures 55
Clashes between East and West Beirut claim 40 lives
Heavy shelling on Greater Beirut claims 22 civilians and more than 75 people injured.
Assault on school bus transporting children in Kfarshima
The Lebanese Army resorts to heavy artillery shelling on southern suburbs
PSP shelling over East Beirut and its suburbs
An Israeli raid on SSNP positions in the Western Beqaa
An Israeli air raid targets the camps of Beddawi and Nahr al-Bared
Israeli raid against a Palestinian base located between Taanayel and Bar Elias
Israeli air raid hit Baalbeck
The Israeli Army conducts air raids on the camp of Mieh w Mieh and Naameh
Israel carries out a series of raids against Lebanese and Palestinian civilian areas and military positions
Israel launchs a series of air and sea raids on Lebanese and Palestinian residential neighborhoods in the Ain al-Hilweh camp and Iqlim al-Kharoub
An Israeli air raid on the camp of Ain al-Hilweh kills 39 people and injures 70.
Israeli Army bombs 21 villages in South Lebanon and the Western Beqaa
An Israeli raid on Palestinian bases in Maghdouche kills two civilians and injured nine
The Israeli Army attacks the village of Zrarieh killing 21 residents
Civilian boat at the Saida port bombed, 2 people killed
the SLA opens fire on civilians in Sohmor killing 13
Riots erupt in the town of Hallusiaan as an Israeli unit arrestes Sheikh Abbas Harb
the Israeli Army carries out unlawful detentions in Saida
Members close to the LF forced 12 Muslim families to evacuate their homes in the area of Saida
The Israeli Army lays siege to the village of Deir Qanoun and Ansar
Displacement of 208 Palestinian families from Saida due to killings and threats
55000 refugees flee Tripoli fighting to Koura, Batroun and Akkar
Fierce clashes claim 70 civilian lives and 50 combatant at Tripoli
10 dead at a checkpoint at Tripoli exit
Murder of civilians continues at Tripoli claiming 124 civilians and 550 wounded
75,000 residents flee the city of Tripoli
Sectarian-based killings in Aley
Sectarian-based killings in Baabda
Christian civilians murdered in Aley and Baabda
Christian civilians murdered in response to LF checkpoint
A PSP member murders 63 Christian civilians
Executions of Christian civilians in the Chouf
PSP murders Christian civilians and LF members
PSP murder Christians in Aley and in the Chouf
LF murder Druz civilians in Aley
Murder of Christians continues
The PSP takes control of Bhmandoun
Murder of Druze civilians in Kfarmatta
Murder of Christians at Ammiq and Selfaya
Houses in al-Abadieh set on fire
Executions at Bmaryam
Syrian and PSP artillery shells East Beirut
Shelling on Ashrafieh continues
LF responds to Ashrafieh shelling
Shelling on Ashrafieh
Executions and Kidnapping of civilians at Kfarhim and Deir Dourit
Clashes between LF and PSP reaches Beirut and its suburbs
PSP attacks and loots Christian quarters of Aley
PSP and Syrian Army shell East Beirut
PSP and Syrian Army shell East Beirut
Clashes between LF forces and PSP continue
Deir al-Qamar Siege claims lives of 8 people
Bombing on Deir al-Qamar
Sectarian-based killings in the Chouf
Fighting between Amal and Palestinian militias in Burj al-Barajneh claim 42 lives
Heavy Artillery claims 110 civilian lives in Tripoli
Shelling on Tripoli kills 30 civilians and 10 Lebanese Army officers
40 civilians killed in clashes between al-Liqa’ al-Islami and the Arab Democratic Party.
Shelling claim lives of 600 civilians and combatants, 1055 wounded
The Islamic Tawhid Party takes over Tripoli and executes 100 leftist
The Islamic Tawhid Party takes over Tripoli and executes 100 leftist
A bomb explodes in front of a hospital and a school in Tripoli
Blast at Tripoli Mosque claim 20 civilian lives after Friday prayer
Armed men open fire on civilian cars entering Tripoli
20 dead and 35 wounded in less than 24 hours in Tripoli
Heavy bombardment on Ba’l Mohsen-Qobbeh-Bab al-Tabbaneh
Displacement of around 100,000 people from 86 villages
Christian civilians executed in Jiyeh, Alman, and in at least 13 other villages
The PSP and its allies shelles, loots and sets on fire houses at Darb al-Seem
Forced displacement of 1000 people from Jiyeh to Jounieh and Beirut
Heavy bombing of residential areas in Saida and in the nearby Palestinian camps
Shelling and gunfire in and around Saida
Lebanese and Palestinian civilians targeted in Saida
Six people killed and 43 injured in Saida
13 Christians killed in Bayqun
14 Christians were killed in Mechref
Systematic destruction of houses in the Chouf and Iqlim al-Kharoub
Forced displacement of 5,500 Christian civilians from the Shuf to South Lebanon
PSP militias shelles a monastery in the village of Jun
Christian quarters in Baabda burned
Seven Christians were found killed in Ammiq
Project: 
HCMA